Single terminus connector with preterminated fiber and fiber guide tube
First Claim
1. A fiber optic connector comprising:
- a ferrule having a ferrule bore extending therethrough;
a pin body having a pin body bore extending therethrough;
a preterminated fiber disposed in the forward end of the ferrule bore, adhesively secured therein;
an index matching gel disposed in the rearward face of the preterminated fiber;
a fiber guide tube having the index matching gel disposed in a portion thereof, the guide bore being sized for a terminating fiber therethrough, such that a portion of the index matching gel disposed within the guide bore thereof will be applied to the forward face of the terminating fiber; and
an entrance section for guiding the terminating fiber into the rearward end portion of the ferrule bore, such that any significant portion on at least one side of the periphery of the terminating fiber will be removed therefrom to allow the index matching gel to optically couple the forward face of the terminating fiber to the rearward face of the preterminated fiber.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A fiber optic connector has a preterminated fiber mounted within a ferrule and a fiber guide tube for guiding a terminating fiber into the ferrule to optically coupled the terminating fiber to the preterminated fiber, with an index matching gel extending between the terminating fiber and the preterminated fiber. An index matching gel is initially disposed on an end face of the preterminated fiber and inside of the fiber guide tube. The index matching gel is placed on an end face of the terminating fiber by passing the terminating fiber through the fiber guide tube, with a portion of the gel being wiped free of the terminating fiber periphery as the fiber enters the ferrule. A window extends through a sidewall of the fiber guide tube for applying an adhesive to secure the terminating fiber to the connector. An light signal is applied to the preterminated fiber as the terminating fiber is being connected to the preterminated fiber, to provide a positive indication which verifies when the two fibers are optically connected.
23 Citations
6 Claims
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1. A fiber optic connector comprising:
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a ferrule having a ferrule bore extending therethrough;
a pin body having a pin body bore extending therethrough;
a preterminated fiber disposed in the forward end of the ferrule bore, adhesively secured therein;
an index matching gel disposed in the rearward face of the preterminated fiber;
a fiber guide tube having the index matching gel disposed in a portion thereof, the guide bore being sized for a terminating fiber therethrough, such that a portion of the index matching gel disposed within the guide bore thereof will be applied to the forward face of the terminating fiber; and
an entrance section for guiding the terminating fiber into the rearward end portion of the ferrule bore, such that any significant portion on at least one side of the periphery of the terminating fiber will be removed therefrom to allow the index matching gel to optically couple the forward face of the terminating fiber to the rearward face of the preterminated fiber. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A method for optically coupling a terminating fiber to a preterminated fiber, comprising the steps of:
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providing a pin body with a ferrule secured in the forward end thereof, the ferrule having a preterminated fiber disposed within a ferrule bore, wherein the preterminated fiber is adhesively secured within the ferrule bore and index matching gel is disposed on the rearward end face of the preterminated fiber;
stripping a predetermined length of the buffer coating from a terminating fiber;
cleaving the forward the end of the terminating fiber to define a end face of the terminating fiber;
passing the terminating fiber through a guide tube having a portion of the index matching gel disposed within a bore thereof, such that at least part of the portion of the index matching gel is disposed on the forward end face of the terminating fiber;
passing the forward end face of the terminating fiber into a rearward end of a bore of the ferrule, such that a significant portion of the index matching gel is wiped off at least a portion of the periphery of the forward end of the terminating fiber;
passing the end face of the terminating fiber fully into the bore of the ferrule, such that the index matching gel extends between the forward end face of the terminating fiber and the rearward end face of the terminating fiber; and
holding pressure on a portion of the terminating fiber to press the forward end face against the rearward end face, and then applying an adhesive through a window in the guide tube to adhesively secure the preterminated fiber into position, optically coupled to the preterminated fiber. - View Dependent Claims (4)
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5. A method for preterminating a P-fiber in a ferrule of a fiber optic connector and assembling the fiber optic connector, comprising the steps of:
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cleaving a length of the P-fiber for preterminating within the ferrule;
inserting the forward end of the P-fiber into the rearward end of the ferrule;
applying I.M. gel to the rearward end of the P-fiber;
pulling the P-fiber to a forward position;
applying adhesive to the peripheral portion of the P-fiber adjacent to the forward end of the ferrule;
moving the P-fiber rearward to apply adhesive between the ferrule bore and the P-fiber;
curing adhesive to bond P-fiber within the ferrule;
cleaving the P-fiber at the forward end of the ferrule;
pre-polishing to remove excess epoxy on ferrule tip;
bonding the ferrule in a pin body;
assembling the pin body, spring, coupling sleeve and retaining ring;
final polishing of connector;
applying I.M. gel to forward end of bore through the fiber guide tube;
installing the fiber guide tube into the bore of the pin body; and
installing strain relief tube onto the pin body. - View Dependent Claims (6)
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Specification